EdFringe Review: Sally Phillips and Lily Bevan - Talking to Strangers at the Soho Theatre

Sally Phillips and Lily Bevan: Talking to Strangers 

Soho Theatre
Reviewed on Wednesday 6th July 2016
★★★★

If, like myself, you are already a fan of Sally Phillips and Lily Bevan, it will come as no surprise to you that a show written and starring the duo is outrageously funny. Before jetting off to Edinburgh, Phillips and Bevan’s hysterically awkward play Talking to Strangers played a few performances at the Soho Theatre.

Review: Monster Raving Loony at the Soho Theatre

Monster Raving Loony

Soho Theatre

Reviewed on Thrusday 19th May 2016

★★★

“Yes, it’s a joke. Yes, it’s a political party”, asserts Samuel James’ Screaming Lord Sutch in James Graham’s new play Monster Raving Loony. And with those eight words, he captures the spirit of the Monster Raving Loony Party and the fiercely paradoxical tone of its subversive, satirical, and essential voice in British politics. Graham’s play, which takes a kaleidoscopic look at Sutch’s life through a set of homages to famous British comedy shows, is exuberantly daft throughout, but at its heart lies a serious point about the need for mockery in our political system. It is both seriously funny and, funnily, serious.

Monster Raving Loony transferring to Soho Theatre

Following its UK premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth, Monster Raving Loony is transferring to the Soho Theatre.

The show will open on 17th May (previews from 14th May) and run until 18th June 2016. Described as "fast-paced, hilarious and (slightly) bonkers", Monster Raving Loony is directed by Simon Stokes.

The original cast - Joseph Alessi, Camilla Beeput, Joanna Brookes, Jack Brown, Samuel James and composer/musician Tom Attwood - will all reprise their roles for the London transfer. Monster Raving Loony has set & costume design by Bob Bailey, lighting by Chahine Yavroyan, audio visual design by Duncan McLean and sound by Gregory Clarke. Guest Director is Cal McCrystal (with a trademark bravura farce contribution).

Review: Fleabag at the Soho Theatre

Fleabag

Soho Theatre

Reviewed on Tuesday 13th May 2014

After a hugely successful run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Soho Theatre last year, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s self-penned one-woman show has returned to London’s Soho Theatre. Fleabag proves that not only does Waller-Bridge have outstanding comic timing and the ability to completely captivate her audience, but her writing is also absolutely hilarious.

Editor's Blog: Top 10 Shows of 2013

When people ask what I do for a living and I explain that I am the Editor of a theatre website I am always asked two questions. Firstly, 'Don't you get bored of going to the theatre every night?' and secondly 'What's the best show you've ever seen?'

My answer to the first question is always no - I do not and never could get bored of going to the theatre every night due to the incredible variety we are so lucky to have in London. If I saw a big West End musical every night I would become bored. If I saw a small fringe play every night I would become bored. But 2013 has seen so many different productions staged all over London which really have pushed theatrical boundaries.

I often find it hard to answer the second question, so throughout the year I have been working on a list of my top ten personal favourite shows of the year... and below is the finished version. I would also just like to thank everyone for their unbelievably amazing support throughout 2013. It has been a very exciting year for West End Frame and, quite simply, we couldn't do it without you. Happy New Year!

10. Chess at the Union Theatre
February 2013 - March 2013

Photo Credit: Mug Photography

For me the most exciting thing about seeing Chess at the Union Theatre was that I was able to be completely open minded as I had absolutely nothing to compare it to. On press night I was surrounded by people discussing how it compared to the original West End production but I had the joy of discovering the show for the first time. Chess was one of the most exciting productions I saw in 2013, the entire run sold out before the first preview! The show took so many risks, all of which paid off. Sarah Galbraith gave the most mesmerising performance as Florence and Christopher Howell and Steven Harris' direction was nothing short of mind-blowing. Their attention to detail was sublime.

Interview: Nikki Davis-Jones, starring in Lift at the Soho Theatre

Nikki Davis-Jones will star as Secretary in Lift, the world premiere of a new musical by Craig Adams and Ian Watson about love, life and loss in a London lift. Later this year she will play Maureen in the 20th Anniversary Concert UK Tour of Rent. Nikki's many theatre credits include Standby Elphaba in Wicked (Apollo Victoria), Serena in Fame (UK Tour), Never Forget (Savoy Theatre), Lisa in Mamma Mia (West End) and Linda in Blood Brothers (West End).

Nikki chats to West End Frame about what it's like being part of a brand new musical, her time in Wicked and how she's excited about touring the UK with Rent!

Are you looking forward to starring in Lift?

I am so excited! The show is definitely going to be something special. As it’s a brand new show we are creating the roles which is so exciting, the buzz in the rehearsal studio has just been amazing! 

How are rehearsals going? 

Brilliant! We started on Monday and have been doing a lot of singing and the harmonies are just unbelievable – Craig Adams is a genius! The eight part harmonies sound incredible. It’s very hard, much harder than I was expecting it to be, but it’s brilliant and so much fun to be part of. 

Julie Atherton & Nikki Davis-Jones to star in new musical 'Lift'

Full casting for the World Premiere of new musical Lift, which will run in the Main House at Soho Theatre from Wednesday 30th January – Sunday 24th February 2013. 

The show will star Julie Atherton as ‘French Teacher’, Nikki Davis-Jones as ‘Secretary’, Cynthia Erivo as ‘Lap Dancer’, Jonny Fines as ‘Ballet Dancer’, Luke Kempner as ‘Bright Young Thing’, Ellie Kirk as ‘Athletic and Wearing a Thong’, George Maguire as ‘Busker’ and Robbie Towns as ‘Tall, Dark and Handsome’.

Julie Atherton has just finished touring the UK as ‘Sister Mary Robert’ in “Sister Act”, and will be playing the title role in “Cinderella” at the Lyric Hammersmith this Christmas. West End theatre credits include ‘Kate Monster’ in the original London cast of “Avenue Q”, ‘Serena Katz’ in “Fame” and ‘Sophie’ in “Mamma Mia!”. Julie has also released two studio albums, “A Girl of Few Words” and “No Space for Air”. 

Interview: Amy Lennox, Soho Cinders & 9 to 5 The Musical UK Tour

Amy Lennox is currently playing Velcro in Soho Cinders at the Soho Theatre and later this year will star as Doralee in the UK tour of 9 to 5 The Musical. Amy's theatre credits include Decade for Headlong, Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden for Birmingham Rep and Margot/1st cover Elle in the original West End production of Legally Blonde The Musical at the Savoy Theatre. Her film credits include Jen in Never Let Me Go for DNA Films and Amy’s television credits include Wrong Turn Five for WT5 Productions. Amy talks to West End Frame about Soho Cinders, how she's looking forward to life on the road with 9 to 5 The Musical and what it was like to recently join the Legally Blonde UK tour to play Elle Woods again...

Everyone has been raving about Soho Cinders, why do you think people love the show so much? 

It's a fun, silly show but is surprisingly heart warming to. I think the audiences are surprised it has that kind of content. The music is just wonderful - Stiles and Drewe really know how to write catchy tunes. We've heard people singing the songs as they leave! 

Rufus Hound joins One Man, Two Guvnors tour

Comedian Rufus Hound will play Francis Henshall in One Man, Two Guvnors during the play's new national tour later this year. This marks Rufus Hound's second professional theatre role following his current run in Utopia at Soho Theatre.

The role of Francis Henshall was created in the National Theatre production by James Corden. Owain Arthur, who originally understudied James Cordon, took over the role when the production transferred to the Theatre Royal Haymarket. This makes Rufus Hound the third actor to play the role.

The new national tour commences at the Curve in Leicester from 25 October-3 November 2012, and visits Newcastle Theatre Royal (6-10 November), Glasgow Theatre Royal (13-17 November), Belfast Grand Opera House (20-24 November), Blackpool Grand (27 November-1 December), Theatre Royal Norwich (4-8 December), Leeds Grand Theatre (11-15 December), Llandudno, Venue Cymru (2-5 January), Salford Lowry (8-19 January), Cardiff Millenium Centre (22-26 January) and Nottingham Theatre Royal (29 January-2 February).

Further casting for the tour is still to be announced, though it has been rumored that current cast member Jodie Prenger will join Rufus Hound for shows at the Lowry in Salford and her home town of Blackpool.